Opal Coast
Visit Calais
The largest town in the department, its dragon and its lace
- The dragon
- Lace
- Harbour
- Beach
Photo: Gargarapalvin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Calais in brief
- How long
- A day: the Cité de la Dentelle in the morning, the beach and town centre in the afternoon.
- When to go
- All year round: Calais is the least weather-dependent town on the coast.
- Parking
- Place d'Armes for the centre, the seafront for the beach. Parking is easier here than in a seaside resort.
- From
- Lille 1 h 10Paris 3 hBruxelles 1 h 45
The most populous town in the department, Calais has France's busiest passenger port and the Channel Tunnel, the main link with England. Sitting at the centre of the Paris–London–Brussels triangle, this seaside town, known for its lace, draws visitors from neighbouring countries every year, thanks especially to its beaches, activities and history.
The 3 highlights
What to do in Calais?
Le Dragon de Calais
A twelve-metre machine that carries passengers along the seafront. Nothing else on the coast compares.
La Cité de la Dentelle et de la Mode
In a former factory, the story of Calais lace and its Leavers looms still in operation.
Le beffroi et la Place d'Armes
The belfry is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the neighbouring watchtower is one of the town's oldest buildings.
And also
- The beach
- The lighthouse
- The belfry
- The citadel
- The theatre
- The watchtower
2 activities to book
What activities to do in Calais?
Our favourite
To see the seafront from the back of a machine
Une promenade sur le Dragon
The Dragon rides along the seafront with its passengers. Places sell out fast in season: check the schedule before you come, not when you arrive.
45 min · booking required
For an afternoon with nothing to book
La plage et le skatepark
Calais beach is huge and edged by a skatepark. From there, you can watch ferries coming and going all day.
Free · open access
Our 3 restaurants
Where to eat in Calais?
Our favourite
For the view over the Strait of Dover
Aquar'aile
Rue Jean-Moulin, up on the heights, on the seafront side.
255 rue Jean-Moulin, Calais
To eat on Place d'Armes
L'Ardoise
At the foot of the watchtower, on the old town's central square.
29 Place d'Armes, Calais
For a table by the basin
Le Channel
Boulevard de la Résistance, between the town centre and the harbour.
3 boulevard de la Résistance, Calais
Other good addresses
- La Tourello47 Place d'Armes, 62100 Calais
- Oh Mouettes10 Rue Jean Pierre Avron, 62100 Calais
Our 3 places to stay
Where to stay in Calais?
Our favourite
To sleep in the town centre
Hôtel Particulier Richelieu
A town-centre address, within walking distance of the belfry and Place d'Armes.
Hotel · Calais
For a stop before the tunnel or the ferry
Holiday Inn Calais
Handy for an overnight stop: the terminals and the A16 are minutes away.
Hotel · Calais
To skip the chain hotel
Chambres d'Hôtes du Parc
A B&B in town, close to the parks and the centre.
B&B · Calais
Getting there and parking
By car on the A16, Calais-centre or Calais-port exit. The easiest town on the coast to reach, at the crossroads of the routes to London, Paris and Brussels.
By train: Calais-Ville station for the centre, Calais-Fréthun for the high-speed rail and Eurostar. The centre and beach are then reached on foot or by bus.
The questions people ask before coming
Does the Dragon of Calais go out every day?
No, and places sell out fast. Check the schedule before planning your day — it's the only attraction on the coast that genuinely needs booking ahead.
What to do in Calais when it rains?
The Cité de la Dentelle et de la Mode, the fine arts museum and the Cité Europe shopping centre: Calais is the coast's best town to visit in the rain.
Is Calais beach worth a visit?
Yes, and it's often underrated: very large, supervised in summer, with a view of the ferry traffic. The wind is a regular here, which makes it a good spot for board sports.
Information about the town
Booming in recent years, the town of Calais offers everything you'd expect from a classic seaside resort: a casino, beaches, museums, restaurants, hotels, bars, nightclubs, a high-speed rail station, a theatre and more.
From the town centre and its theatre down to the sea wall, plenty of monuments line the way in this history-rich town. More recently, the Dragon of Calais has appeared, carrying visitors for a ride through town on its back.
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